J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 30, 2016-18
209-220
Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara
Buffer Zone Community Forest, Chitwan, Nepal
Udisha Danekhu1, Rajeswar Shrestha2, and Sanu Raja Maharjan1
2
1
Goldengate International College, Battisputali, Kathmandu, Nepal
Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
botanysanu@hotmail.com
ABSTRACT
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) are the forest products except timber used for various
purposes from which economic status of the country can be increased through green growth based
economy. The study was conducted in Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest for the inventory,
to document various uses and find out the preferred NTFPs potential for economic development of
Community Forest User Groups. Stratified random sampling was applied in which 50 quadrats of
size 25m×20m for trees, 100 subplots of 10m×10m for shrubs and 200 small subplots of 1m×1m
size for herbs and climbers were taken. Parameters like density, frequency, abundance, importance
value index, diversity index, evenness index and dominance index were calculated to find out the
ecological status of NTFPs. Questionnaire survey of 100 households was done for studying different
uses and interview with 10 key informants were carried out to identify 10 most preferred NTFPs.
Altogether, 109 NTFPs were enumerated. Trewia nudiflora, Clerodendrum viscosum, Imperata
cylindrica and Mikania micrantha were dominant tree, shrub, and herb and climber species according
to Importance value Index (IVI). There is significant difference in density of trees, shrubs, herbs
and climbers between different sample quadrats i.e. p value < 0.05. NTFPs found were used for
medicine, fodder, food, veterinary, dying, handicrafts, crop management, ornamental, insecticides,
construction, beverage, piscicidal, religious and miscellaneous purposes. Calamus tenuis, Curcuma
longa, Piper longum, Phyllanthus emblica, Asparagus racemosus, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia
chebula, Bauhinia variegata, Tinospora sinensis and Dryopteris cochleata were ten most preferred
Non Timber Forest Products from matrix preference ranking.
Keywords: ecological parameters, inventory, use categories, matrix preference ranking,
resource assessment,
INTRODUCTION
Biological resources from forest are likely the key sources of energy in all forms consumed
by human beings for their survival (Khanal, 2006). Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
consist of goods of biological origin other than timber, derived from forests, other wooded
land and trees outside forests (FAO, 1999). NTFPs can be classified according to their end
use as described by FAO (1995) as food, fodder, medicine, perfume and cosmetic, dying
and tanning, utensils and handicraft, construction material, ornamental and exudates. The
diversity of products, mode of organic production, free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers,
having high medicinal and aromatic properties are some of the comparative advantages of the
NTFPs sector of Nepal (Keshari, 2007).
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NTFPs can provide important community needs for improved rural livelihood; contribute to household
food security and nutrition; help generate additional employment and income; offer opportunities
for enterprises and entrepreneurship; contribute local economy and support biodiversity and other
conservation objectives (FAO, 1995). The sustainable harvesting has to be considered in these
regards in order to address the enormous variations in terms of usage, plant form, life cycle and
product type, while the methods of assessment and sustainable harvesting of NTFPs have to be site
and product specific to address both the ecological and socio-economic considerations (Ojha et al.,
2003). This study, therefore, is aimed to explore and identify NTFPs and analyze their management
entities at BBZCF in pursuit of assessment and sustainable harvesting of NTFPS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study area
Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest (BBZCF) is situated in close vicinity of Chitwan
National Park. It is located in Bachhauli VDC and covers an area of 215 ha. (163 ha. was naturally
regenerated through community efforts) (Sharma et al., 2012). It is located in between 27o 34.78’27o 35.53’ northern latitude and 84o 28.43’-84o 29.40’ eastern longitude in central lowland Nepal at
an elevation of 200 to 250 m above sea level. BBZCF is rich in biodiversity and is popular tourist
destination for elephant riding and nature walk. The Operation Plan of BBZCF has given high
priority for developing tourism sector but nearly neglects the management of NTFPs available in
the forest. This community forest constitutes 77.03% forest area, 22.78% grassland and 0.19%
religious areas (BBZCF, 2013). The forest is divided into 8 blocks for management purpose. The
CF is bordered by Budhi Rapti River and Khageri Khola in the north and west, Badrahani and
Raptiriver in the south, private land in the east and Chitrasen BZCF lies in north.
FIG. 1. Map of study area.
The study was exploratory as well as descriptive in nature. It included both qualitative and
quantitative approaches via vegetation sampling and social survey.
Danekhu et al.: Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara.................211
Forest sampling for NTFPs resources assessment
For inventory of NTFPs, stratified random sampling was applied with 1% sampling intensity
in which the forest was divided into 8 blocks. The stratification was done according to the
division of blocks done by Baghmara Buffer Zone Community forest for management purpose.
For study of trees, 50 random quadrats of size 25 m×20 m were taken according to guideline
given by MFSC (2004). 100 subplots of 10 m×10 m (2 diagonally opposite nesting plots in
each tree sampling plot) were taken for study of shrubs and 200 micro plots of 1m×1m were
laid for herbs/climber. Different parameters like Density, Frequency, Abundance, Importance
Value Index, Diversity Index, Evenness Index and Dominance Index were calculated to find
out the ecological status of NTFPs found.
Density
= Total number of individuals of species
Total Number of quadrats studied× Area of quadrat taken
Frequency
= Number of quadrats in which species occurred ×100
Total number of Quadrats studied
Abundance
= Total Number of individuals in all the sampling units
Total number of sampling units in which species occured
Abundance can also be recorded using the ACFOR scale which comprises of 5 classes as
given in table 1.
TABLE 1. Classes of abundance.
Value of abundance
Abundance class
Above 90
Abundant (a) or Dominant (d)
30-90
Common or Co-dominant (Co)
15-29
Frequent (f)
5-14
Occasional (o)
1-4
Rare (r)
Importance Value Index (IVI)
IVI= Relative Density + Relative Frequency + Relative Abundance
Shannon-Wieners Diversity Index (H’)
H΄= -Σ pi ln pi
where, pi= ni/N , N= Total number of individual of all species, ni= no. of individuals of each
species
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Evenness Index (e)
e = H΄= /lnS,
where, H΄= = Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index, S = Total number of species in the sample
Index of Dominance (D)
D = ∑ (ni/ N) 2
where, ni = number of individuals of each species, N = Total number of individual of all species
Morrisita’s Similarity Index (Im)
Morrisita Index of Similarity (Im) =
2(∑ni1× ni2)
(l1×l2) (N1×N2)
where, ni= number of individuals of each species, N= Total number of individual of all species,
λ=Simpsons index of dominance.
Most of the species were identified in the field through local names with the help of local people
and experts. The specimens of unidentified plants were collected; herbarium specimens
were prepared and then identified at National Herbarium and Plant Laboratory (KATH). Valid
scientific names with author citation were adopted according to the checklist Press et al.
(2000).
Household survey
For social survey, 100 households especially indigenous group were surveyed using random
sampling techniques for this open-ended questions were developed and used for survey. The
minimum sample size for household survey was determined by using statistical formula given
below (Arkin & Colton, 1963) at 95% confidence level.
Mathematically, n =
where, n = sample size, N= Total number of households, Z= Confidence level (at 95%, z
=1.96), P= Estimated population proportion (0.05), d= Error limit of 5% (0.05).
Key informant survey
10 key informant surveys were carried out with chairperson, members of the CFUGs,
elderly person and local healers for getting more information on practices regarding NTFPs,
availability, utility, present condition and situation of NTFPs species. Matrix preference ranking
was done from key survey for identifying most preferred NTFPs.
Matrix preference ranking
The preference ranking of NTFPs available in the study area were carried out on the basis of
various criteria of preference ranking form.
Danekhu et al.: Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara.................213
TABLE 1. Preference ranking form.
S.N.
Criteria
Scale and score
3
2
1
1.
Market demand
High
Moderate
Low
2.
Margin/Profit
High
Moderate
Low
3.
Availability (in time)
Almost
always
Occasionally
Seasonal
4.
Availability (in space)
Widespread
Moderate
Low
5.
Impact of harvesting on
survival of species
Minimum
Moderate
High
6.
Amount of time needed to
find and harvest NTFPs
Short
Moderate
Long
7.
Regeneration potential
High
Moderate
Low
8.
Contribution to income
High
Moderate
Low
9.
Gender impact
Only women
Both men and
women
Only men
10.
Potential for employment
creation
High
Moderate
Low
11.
Processing technology
Manual/Local
technology
Mechanical/
expertise
Sophisticated/foreign
technology
12.
Uses
Diverse use
Medium use
Single use
Source: Thakur (2005), Magar (2008)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Inventory of NTFPs
In the study, 109 different NTFP plant species were enumerated with 106 Angiosperm
(85-Dicots and 21-Monocots) and 3 Pteridophytes which indicated that the area harbors
variety of potential NTFPs. Herbs (47 species) were the most prominent life forms followed
by trees (31 species), shrubs (24 species) and climbers (7 species).The total density of trees
of BBZCF was found to be 300 trees/ha. Similarly density of shrubs, herbs and climbers were
5121 ind./ha, 1044550 ind./ha and 14750 respectively. From the study, the dominant species
with highest density in different life forms were- Trewia nudiflora among the tree species,
Clerodendrum viscosum (shrub), Imperata cylindrica (herbaceous plant) and Mikania micrantha
among climber species. There is significant difference in density of trees, shrubs, herbs and
climbers between different quadrats i.e. p < 0.05. Plants widespread with high frequency
of occurrence values in different life forms were Trewia nudiflora, Callicarpa macrophylla,
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Dryopteris cochleata and Mikania micrantha. Similarly, the maximum abundance was found
of Trewia nudiflora, Bambusa sp., Axonopus compressus and Piper longum (climber). On the
basis of abundance values, 28 tree species were found rare and 3 as occasional. Among the
shrub species, 8 were found rare, 8 occasional, 5 frequent and 3 common. Similarly, 5 species
of herbs were rare, 15 occasional, 7 frequent, 6 common and 4 abundant or dominant and in
climbers, 6 were rare and 1 occasional.
Trewia nudiflora was dominant tree with highest IVI value (103.33). Clerodendrum viscosum
(73.93), Imperata cylindrica (43.10) and Mikania micrantha (138.55) were dominant species
among shrubs, herbs and climbers on the basis of IVI values. The Dominance–Diversity (D-D)
curves for all life forms were found consistent with normal distribution model of Preston (1948).
The more steep curve of tree species than other life forms indicated the high dominance of a
species i.e. Trewia nudiflora.
FIG. 2. Dominance-Diversity curve of trees.
FIG. 3. Dominance-diversity curve of shrubs.
Danekhu et al.: Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara.................215
FIG. 4. Dominance-diversity curve of herbs.
FIG. 5. Dominance-diversity curve of climbers.
In this study, Shannon Weiner’s diversity index of the forest was found maximum of herbs
followed by shrubs and trees. Similarly, Evenness Index was high in shrubs. The study of
Index of dominance showed that climbers had maximum value, followed by trees and shrubs
and minimum of herbs.
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TABLE 2. Diversity, evenness and Dominance Index in BBZCF.
Index\life forms
Tree
Shrub
Herb
Climber
Diversity index
1.63
2.01
2.31
1.1
Evenness index
0.47
0.63
0.6
0.57
Dominance
0.4
0.23
0.16
0.43
Utilities of NTFPs
Of the total of 109 NTFPs species found in the forest, they were categorized into 14 groups on
the basis of their use. Same plants were also used for a number of purposes. The plant use
categorizations with number of plants used is shown in table 3.
TABLE 3. NTFPs utilization categorization.
S.N.
Use types
No. of species
Remarks
1.
Medicine
100
2.
Fodder
86
3.
Food
47
4.
Veterinary medicine
26
5.
Dying and tannin
19
Dying-10, tanning-13
6.
Utensils and handicraft
19
Utensil- 14, dish plates and cups-5,
paper and pulps-4 , pillows-2
7.
Crop management
17
Fencing-7, manure-5, pesticides-5
8.
Ornamental
14
9.
Insecticides
11
10.
Construction material
9
11.
Beverage
8
12.
Piscicidal
8
13.
Religious
7
14.
Miscellaneous
10
Vegetable-20, fruit-19,
spices-5, Seed-4
pickle-9,
Exudates- 4, oil-4, bio-briquette-2
As shown in fig. 6 and 7, The most frequently used plant parts were leaf (80 species), followed
by whole plant (65 species). Most of species found in the forest were medicinally important.
Danekhu et al.: Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara.................217
Medicinal plants were used in various forms for different ailments. Majority of the plants were
used in the form of juice (73 species) followed by paste (69 species).
FIG. 6. Plant parts used.
FIG.7. Different modes of use of medicinal plants.
The plants used to treat various diseases and ailments are grouped under 12 disease
categories with the maximum number of species (67) being used for gastro-intestinal disorders
and 67 for dermatological disorders (table 4).
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TABLE 4. Number of species used in different ailment category.
Ailment category
Biomedical terms
No. of
species used
Gastro-intestinal
disorders
Constipation, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Nausea,
Indigestion, Vomiting, Stomachache, Gastric
trouble, Loss of appetite, Intestinal worms, Colic
pain, Flatulence, Piles
67
Dermatological
disorders
Cuts, Wounds, Boils, Pimples, Skin rashes,
Ringworm, Scabies, Leprosy, Skin burns, Skin
blemishes, Ecto-parasites, Skin diseases, Hair
problems, Body inflammation
67
Fevers,
Ordinary fever, Diaphoretic Malaria, Typhoid
42
skeleto-muscular
pain and swelling
Body ache, Muscular pain, Sprain, Strain,
Rheumatism, Arthritis, Joint pain, Swelling
33
Respiratory diseases
Common cold, Cough, Asthma, Bronchitis, Chest
pain, Lung disorders
32
Ear, nose, throat
problems
Earache, Throat sore, Nose bleeding, Sinusitis.
30
Ureno-genital
problems
Sexual debility, Infertility, Leucorrhoea,
Gonorrhea, Menstrual disorders, Frequent
urination, Diuretic, Aphrodisiac
28
Headache
Migraine Headache, Normal Headache
16
Oral and dental
disorder
Toothache, Mouth sore
15
Cardio-vascular
disorder
Cardiac, Blood pressure
6
Mental disorder
Mental tonic, Memory tonic, Epilepsy
4
Others
Fracture, Tonic, Lactation, Easy delivery, Tumor,
Diabetes, Cooling agent, Stimulant and Eye
problem
29
Matrix preference ranking
Among 109 NTFPs species found, 10 prioritized species were selected through key informant
survey based on various criteria in the preference matrix. Calamus tenuis got the maximum
score and was placed in the first rank followed by Curcuma longa, Piper longum, Phyllanthus
emblica, Asparagus racemosus, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Bauhinia variegata,
Tinospora sinensis and Dryopteris cochleata respectively.
The data from inventory revealed that herbaceous plants stand out as richest life form of
NTFPs in comparison to trees, shrubs and climbers. Chhetri (1997) also found higher number
of herbs species than shrubs in Chitwan National Park. Trewia nudiflora, Clerodendrum
Danekhu et al.: Assessment of non timber forest products in Baghmara.................219
viscosum, Imperata cylindrica and Mikania micrantha were dominant species among
trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers respectively on the basis of IVI values which express the
dominance and ecological success of the species (Misra, 1968) and removal of these species
might result in important change in biotic community. Acacia catechu and Bombax ceiba were
listed as a commercially threatened species in IUCN category and as protected species under
Forest Act 1993, banned for transportation, export and felling. Similarly, Alstonia scholaris
fall under rare list of IUCN and as Vulnerable in CAMP (Shrestha & Joshi, 1996). Asparagus
racemosa, Piper longum and Tinospora sinensis are listed as Vulnerable in CAMP (Shrestha
& Joshi, 1996).
The user groups of BBZCF were found to possess a very rich ethnobotanical knowledge and
had been making use of wild plant species for various purposes. Despite all the marvelous
advancements in modern medicine in the industrialized part of the world, traditional herbal
medicine had always been practiced by the local people of these rural areas. Guruwas and
Kesuka are traditional healers in the community and had rich knowledge on medicinal plants,
their mode of action and use.
The availability of high value as well as prioritized NTFPs in the forest such as Asparagus
racemosus, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Phyllanthus emblica, Piper longum and Tinospora
sinensis among 30 NTFPs enlisted by GoN/MoFSC (2007) had made more promising
opportunities for CFUGs to undertake NTFPs as income generating prospect. People were
more interested in NTFPs which could give quick return and; have potential market and ease of
propagation was also important factors. From the forest, annual amount of Rs. 27,776 and Rs.
53, 880 were generated by trading Curcuma longa and Calamus tenuis respectively (BBZCF,
2013). Till date no strong efforts had been done in terms of NTFPs in this community forest
despite of its potentiality. So emphasis should be given NTFPs cultivation with high economic
potential suited to biophysical condition of forest and have no negative impacts on environment.
Altogether, 109 NTFPs were recorded in BBZCF in which diverse life forms were of herbs
followed by shrubs, trees and climbers. Most dominant species was Trewia nudiflora among
trees; Clerodendrum viscosum among shrubs; Imperata cylindrica among herbs and Mikania
micrantha among climbers. The CFUs were using NTFPs for medicinal, fodder, food,
dying and tannin, utensils and handicrafts, crop management, ornamentals, insecticides,
construction material, beverage, piscicidal, religious and for miscellaneous purposes. From
matrix preference ranking, Calamus tenuis was found the most preferred NTFPs in the study
area. Emphasis should be given to these NTFPs with high economic potential which is also
suited to biophysical condition of forest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our deep appreciation goes to Dr. Harka Gurung - New ERA Fellowship 2013 and University
Grants Commission Research Grant 2013 for financial support. We express thanks to DNPWC
and Mr. Bhuwaneswar Prasad Chaudhary, President of BBZCF for granting permission to
conduct this work. Thanks to Kiran Bhusal, Bijay Maharjan, Sandhya Manandhar and Sabina
Twanabasu who helped during the field work. All the respondents of BBZCF Users group are
acknowledged for their valuable time and information.
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